Watermelon

How Long Does Watermelon Last?

How long does watermelon last? The shelf life of watermelon depends when the watermelon was picked and how it is stored. A watermelon, actually a vegetable but normally considered a fruit, is completely edible including the rind and seeds.

There is rarely a picnic that does not include a watermelon. Its sweet, juicy red flesh has plenty of Vitamins A & C and the anti-oxident lycopene which is good for heart and bone health. It has no fat and is very low in calories as it is comprised of 90% water and 8% natural sugar.

So, how long does watermelon last? When properly stored, the shelf life of watermelon past its picked or purchased date is approximately ...

Watermelon Expiration Date

Counter

Refrigerator

Watermelon - Whole lasts for

7-10 Days

2-3 Weeks

Watermelon - Cut lasts for

1 Day

3-5 Days

Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember, watermelon, like a lot of other fresh fruits, usually does not have a use by date or a best before date so you will have to use the date purchased or date picked.

How to tell if Watermelon is bad, rotten or spoiled?

To pick a nice watermelon, look for a nice symmetrical shape free of cuts and bruises. The bottom of the melon should be a nice yellow color, showing that it laid on the ground as the sun ripened it. Since it is mostly water, it should be heavy in weight so you know that it is juicy and not yet drying out.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods, so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired.

How to store Watermelon to extend its shelf life?

Proper food storage is key to extending the expiration date of food.

Watermelon shelf can be extended by keeping it in the refrigerator, but be sure to keep it furthest from your freezer section or it may freeze.
Watermelon does not freeze well, it becomes dark red and when you cut it open the juices just flow out... leaving a pretty empty rind! So, freezing is not an option for watermelon storage.

Cut watermelon should be stored in an airtight container. Since watermelon is mostly water, the liquid begins leaving the flesh soon after cutting and continues to leave as it ages.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Watermelon:

The rind can actually be eaten. It is often pickled in countries like China and Russia.

Watermelon rinds also make great centerpiece bowls to serve your fruit salads. Check out these great carving ideas.

How long is Watermelon good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does watermelon last? That depends. How long do pineapples last? In general, watermelon lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the dish.

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What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Watermelon lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Watermelon.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Watermelon shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care prefessional. Please eat responsibly!